Namibia welcomes Chinese-built logistic shipBy Mrityunjoy Mazumdar8/16/2012Namibia's newest and largest naval vessel arrived in Walvis Bay on 13 August after setting out on its delivery voyage from Shanghai, China, a little over a month ago.

NS Elephant (S11) and its Namibian Navy (NN) crew of 65, who received six months' training in China, made port calls at Jakarta, Indonesia, and Port Louis, Mauritius, en route to southern Africa.

Namibia's deputy defence minister, Lempy Lucas, told local media that the 108 m logistic support vessel (LSV) would significantly expand the navy's capacity. "Namibia will continuously upgrade its security measures through the Namibian Navy," she was quoted as saying. "The ministry of defence set itself three objectives, which [are] to recruit and continuously train officers, construct naval facilities all over the country and acquire vessels."

Elephant was built by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Company in Wuhan on the Yangtse River. Construction began in January 2011 and the ship was launched 10 months later. It was placed in the hands of its Namibian crew on 3 July 2012 and will be officially delivered to the NN on 7 September, according to local reports.

Namibia’s president Hifikepunye Pohamba has inaugurated the PN Sacharia naval base, a new naval jetty and the NS Elephant naval vessel during an official ceremony in Walvis Bay.

The ceremony on Friday saw the naval base named after its former captain, Phestus Nopoundjuu Sacharia, Namibia’s first Maritime Wing Commander, who died in 2002. Construction of the base began in 2002 and was completed in 2004. A bust of the commander was unveiled at the base in tribute to the naval personnel who died whilst serving the Namibian Navy, The Namibian reports.

During proceedings Pohamba also opened a new naval jetty, construction of which was completed last month. Construction involved excavating the seabed so that large vessels could navigate alongside. The Namibian reports that in the future, a service station and fuel and water reservoirs will be added to the jetty.

One of the highlights of Friday’s activities was the official commissioning of Namibia’s latest naval ship, the NS Elephant (S11). This is a multi-purpose patrol ship, and resembles an offshore patrol vessel built on a frigate hull.

Pohamba, also the Commander-in-Chief of the Namibian Defence Force, said that Namibia needs the capacity to protect “our exclusive economic zone, but also to respond to unforeseen events that may occur in Namibia’s territorial waters.”

“It represents a welcome boost to our capacity to ensure that our navy has the right equipment to effectively and efficiently carry out the duties and responsibilities entrusted to it,” the president said.

NS Elephant joined the NS Brendan Simbwaye and two harbour patrol boats (Möwe Bay and Terrace Bay). “Together, these ships and the men and women who sail in them constitute the frontline in the protection of our nation’s maritime interests, which form part of our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Pohamba said.

“All these ceremonies represent an important milestone in the development of our maritime defence capabilities, while the acquisition of these strategic assets is part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening our national institutions.”

Construction of NS Elephant began in October 2002 at the Wuhan Shipyard in China, reports Namibia’s New Era. The vessel was reportedly formally handed over to the navy in late June 2012. She arrived in Walvis Bay on August 13.

The vessel is equipped with a 37 mm naval gun and two 14.5 mm twin-barrelled machine guns. She has a deadweight of 2 500 tonnes and can carry 6 x 12 foot containers of 24 tonnes, six armed personnel carriers of 12 tonnes each, and at least 150 crewmembers. NS Elephant also has a landing deck for a large helicopter.

Vice-President and Board Member of the China Poly Group, Wang Xiao Chao, who attended the commissioning of the vessel with his delegation, said they were honoured to be trusted with the construction of the new navy vessel, New Era reports.

"We firmly believe Namibian Ship Elephant will significantly improve the Namibian Navy's capability of territorial water control and logistic support and will play an important role in defending Namibian territorial waters," he said.

Janes reports the Namibian Maritime Wing (NMW) has for some time been embarked on a major procurement programme “with the primary aim of gaining the ability to exercise control over Namibia's EEZ.” Two Namacurra-class harbour patrol craft were donated by South Africa in 2002. Then, in 2004, Brazil donated a corvette belonging to the Imperial Marinheiro-class (Lt Gen Dimo Hamaambo, C11) to be used as a coastal patrol ship.

Following a 2003 agreement between the Brazilian and Namibian governments, the NMW took delivery of a 46.5 m coastal patrol craft in January 2009. Based on Brazil's Grajaú-class large patrol craft, NS Brendan Simbwaye (P11) was acquired under a programme managed by Empresa Gerencial de Projectos Navais, which was also be responsible for weapon systems integration and in-service logistic support. The 217-tonne vessel was ordered by Namibia in June 2004, along with four 20.9 m aluminium fast patrol craft for coastal surveillance and protection.

Deliveries of the first two fast patrol craft were expected in 2010 and the second pair in 2011, although no confirmation has yet emerged, Janes adds. “However, it is known that construction of the four new craft began once the patrol ship Brendan Simbwaye was completed in 2009. No modernisation plans have been announced for the older parts of the NMW. It is believed that the current patrol vessels, supplied from Norway, Denmark and South Africa will be decommissioned. This includes the 406 ton patrol boat NS Oryx (P01) and two 45 ton Marlin-class patrol craft Terrace Bay (HPB20) and Möwe Bay (HPB21).

The wing’s main tasks have been described by chief Rear Admiral Peter Vilho as being to undertake "appropriate naval operations in defence of the country, assisting the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources with fisheries patrols, protecting offshore installations, protecting trade routes within the country's territorial waters and conducting search and rescue operations.”

more NDF helicopter crash victim has passed away in hospital in Windhoek this afternoon. The deceased is believed to be a three-year-old boy who is the child of an NDF member. Defence Permanent Secretary, Petrus Shivute, said that he could not reveal more details until the next of kin is notified. The five survivors remain in critical conditionA Namibia Defence Force helicopter crashed, killing four people, at the Grootfontein airport at around 05h00 today.

The five survivors all sustained serious injuries and were transported to Windhoek for medical attention.

While details are still sketchy, The Namibian has determined that the chopper crashed just moments after it took off.

Apparently, the helicopter was headed for Windhoek, to fetch the defence minister Nahas Angula who was scheduled to attend the graduation of technicians at the air force today.

Angula confirmed the incident, describing it as tragic.

According to a media release from the Ministry of Defence, the helicopter, which was on official duty, was carrying a crew of two pilots and eight passengers.

Investigations are underway and further information will be made available at a later stage, the statement read.

Sources speculated that the crash may have been caused by the engine of the chopper not being warm enough before takeoff.- See more at: http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=11727&page_type=story_detail&category_id=1#sthash.wAR4WbqF.dpuf

NAMIBIA Air Force Commander Air Vice-Marshall Martin Pinehas says investigations have been launched to determine the cause of the helicopter crash at the Grootfontein Military Base.Pinehas told Nampa at the Grootfontein Military Base that the Ministry of Defence has instituted an inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.

“The investigating team comprises of Namibia Defence Force (NDF) officials, experts from the Republic of China as well as the manufacturers of this Z-9 helicopter,” said Pinehas.

Nampa was informed that the NDF Z-9 helicopter, which crashed on 11 April was still relatively new – approximately three years old.

The military helicopter crashed shortly after lift-off and burst into flames, instantly killing four of the ten people on board. Three other victims of that crash died later in hospital.

The Air Force Commander said the helicopter was being flown by Senior Pilot Elifas Simon Angala, (36) and co-flight officer Evangeline Naufiku Nghimwenavali.

He said that the helicopter successfully took off, but suddenly came down and crashed, bursting into flames at about 05h05.

The 28-year-old Nghimwenavali, Wilka Ndanyengwa Sheya, (27) and Toini Nekulilo Martin, (52) died on the spot.

Pinehas explained that Martin was a member of the Namibian Police Force and a mother of Martin Shoopala - the NDF Air Traffic Controller at Grootfontein.

A three-year-old boy, Mcvince Mwiya, who died at hospital in Grootfontein, was the son of one of the general workers at the military base.

Hendrick Amalwa (six) also died later at a hospital in Windhoek.

“Amalwa was a nephew of Martin,” said Pinehas.

Angala, who was flying the helicopter, sustained serious injuries and died on Tuesday afternoon in the Katutura State Hospital.

Three other injured people who were also on board are still in a critical condition at different hospitals in Windhoek.

The helicopter was set to pick Defence Minister Nahas Angula from Windhoek, so that he could officiate at the graduation ceremony of the Air Force students at Grootfontien.

Angula also told mourners at a memorial service for the crash victims in Grootfontein on Tuesday, that experts were already busy working to determine the cause of the accident.

He said family members and friends of the deceased will be informed of the findings once the investigations have been concluded. – Nampa- See more at: http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=12026&page_type=story_detail&category_id=1#sthash.9WL2zGD2.dpuf

Focus on candidate selection, training, the right equipment and adequate funding, Namibia is building an elite fighting force.

By Oscar Nkala

Minister ya Ndakolo said Namibia will, in the next few years, intensify its drive to expand, train and equip the NDF in order to meet evolving security threats which include armed insurgency, terrorism, piracy, money-laundering and kidnapping for ransom—problems which are already firmly rooted in East, West, Central and North Africa.

Following a display of tactical air and ground operations capabilities by the graduates, ya Ndakolo expressed satisfaction that the special force has the capability to counter both internal and external threats:

“I am very proud of what I saw. As we in the ministry and in the Namibian Defence Force constantly advocate for mobility and agility of the defence force, we should recognize that the role of our special forces will be crucial in nearly all operations of the NDF,” said ya Ndakolo. “In a vast and semi-desert country like this, role of special forces needs to be given prominence and considered central in the defense force design and deployment procedures,” he said.

He said the special forces are a force-multiplier which can be deployed in small teams to serve as commando units in the Parachute Regiment, Special Air Service and special boat groups in support of the navy. The units can also be deployed on counter-terrorism operations which include urban, desert, mountain and forest warfare.

Minister ya Ndakolo said the graduates can also operate all heavy artillery systems and light infantry weapons in addition to competence in intelligence gathering, counter-intelligence and sabotage operations aimed at destroying enemy weaponry, communications and logistical supplies systems.

Ya Ndakolo implored the acting NDF Chief of Staff Vice-Marshal Martin Pinehas to recruit only the ‘best and brightest soldiers’ to form future elite units of the special forces and challenged the graduates to be exemplary. “They should be trained at a higher intensity to prepare them properly for their missions as a rapid deployment force. To those of you who are graduating today, remember that you were chosen for this special training because you are the finest Namibians who have been given this excellent opportunity to become members of the special forces and to obtain the best military training available in the world. Therefore you are expected to be exceptional soldiers in both your performance and behavior,” he said.

The NDF Special Forces are being trained by US defense and security specialist company Chute Systems Specialists. The company has been training Namibian Special Forces since 2009 in terms of a package that includes a skills transfer process through which it is training Namibians to become instructors at the special forces school.

A representative of Chute Systems Specialist hailed the resilience of the graduates saying the comprehensive special forces training curriculum offered to the NDF is ‘almost like torture.’

“It’s almost like torture and the drill sergeants know no other way than the contents prescribed in training manuals. Personnel admitted to the unit specialize in mountain warfare operations at high altitude terrains where they are exposed to the tough skills of climbing and cold weather survival. Other than mountain warfare, they are also drilled in vehicle insertion techniques, motor vehicle maintenance and mechanics,” said Waldo Krahenbuhl, one of Chute Systems’ owners.

He said the potential recruits are subjected to extreme physical and mental tests before they are admitted and can withdraw at anytime during training. This year, Namibia allocated a defense budget of N$7.23 billion (about $537.14 million), of which a substantial amount will be used to train and equip the special forces among other high priority force modernization programs.

The budget will also fund the procurement of modern military equipment, the construction and refurbishment of infrastructure at several army bases. A high proportion of the budget will also be used on military research and development projects which include evaluation, research and re-stocking or upgrading of military equipment.

In terms of Namibia’s Medium Term Expenditure Framework Plan for 2015/16 and 2017/18, the N$7.23 billion will be used for the construction of a new army battle school at Oshivelol and the training of 3,500 new army recruits. New military bases will be constructed in the town of Mpacha, Oluno, Keetmanshoop, Gobabis, Walvis Bay (navy base) and Karibib (air base).

Three existing military bases—Osona, Luiperdsvallei, Leopards Valley (Windhoek) and Otjiwarongo—will be upgraded while a new military hospital will be built at at a cost of N$800 million during the lifespan of the currenct defense budget. Namibian defense and security experts have expressed support for the country’s surging annual defense spending saying the absence of war in the region does not mean that security threats have ceased to exist.

Despite the successful suppression of an armed secessionist rebel movements which briefly seized Katima Mulilo, the capital of the Caprivi Strip (now called Zambezi Province), the Namibian government is worried about the possibility of future revolts arising from the simmering secessionist demands.

The country’s defense spending is also informed by the country raging border disputes with Botswana over an island on the Chobe river known as Kasikilili in Namibia and Sedudu in Botswana.

In 1992, the two countries fought a brief war over the island and the conflict has simmered on since. Namibia also has border and water rights disputes with South Africa and Lesotho over the Orange River which originates in the Lesotho Highlands and forms the frontier with South Africa. Newly discovered off-shore hydro-cardon and mineral resources have also led to calls for the development of a robust navy to protect the 1,300 kilometer-long coast and sea-borne resources.

There will be no recruitment in the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) during the 2016/17 financial year while a reduction in the early retirement age is on the cards, Defence Minister Penda ya Ndakolo revealed at Swakopmund on Monday [March 7].

“As we heed the call not to recruit in the next financial year, we should take cognisance of the fact that our force is ageing and hence those who are retiring need to be replaced.

“In this regard, we must look at other alternatives such as making savings by implementing the personnel policies. It should also be noted that one of Government’s proposed initiatives is to look at reducing the early retirement age, which is in line with our reviewed personnel policies,” YaNdakolo said.

He was speaking at the official opening of the ministry’s six-day review of the 2015/16 budget to note achievements, challenges and plan ahead.

A crosscheck with the ministry’s spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Monica Sheya said the halt in recruitment is to cut costs.

“We are all striving to economise just like any other Government institution. Recruitment is a Government policy, depending on the availability of funds and we only recruit when Cabinet says so. If we are not given the green light then we cannot do it,” Sheya replied.

Ya Ndakolo said the estimated 2016/17 budget was cut by more than N$600 million and instructions were given by Cabinet on which activities must be foregone.

The Ministry of Defence is expecting a budget of N$6,6 billion, which is lower than the N$7,3 billion received the previous financial year.

“This requires us to reprioritise our needs and apply stringent cost-effective measures. I therefore expect that this important meeting comes up with workable solutions to offset the forfeited resources,” said the minister.

He continued that an assessment of the performance of all entities in the ministry must be done to ensure that mandates are carried out effectively.

On improved service delivery, Ya Ndakolo said he expects the meeting to identify one or two processes that are hampering efficient service delivery for re-engineering.

“We must not be complacent in planning and preparing for the defence of our motherland from external aggression. We must also not underestimate societal issues in our country which may trigger internal unrest.”

He said for the ministry to remain the pride of the nation, they need to forge ahead with the vision of developing a mobile, well equipped and well trained all volunteer force.

This, he said, can only be achieved if there is a perfect mix of troops and equipment.

“We all know that our profession is both human capital and material intensive. For that, we require a proper mix of the two, perfected by training and an effective command and control system, which cannot be overemphasised. It is therefore up to us to conduct a proper audit of both our human and material resources to ensure that we remain a force to be reckoned with, despite budget limitations.”

The meeting, which started on Monday, is being attended by high-ranking officials and management members from the Defence, Air and Navy Forces.

Namibian Defence Minister Penda Ya Ndakolo has insisted that the government is not building an arms factory, but just offices.

This is a contradiction to the versions by information minister Tjekero Tweya and deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who in a way confirmed the existence of the arms plant being built by North Koreans.

Ndakolo briefly spoke in the National Assembly on Wednesday [April 20] after Tweya explained the incident where two Japanese journalists were questioned and later deported for taking pictures of a military facility.

After Tweya’s speech, Ya Ndakolo stood up and agreed with part of the information minister’s statement regarding defence facilities and the abuse of journalism privileges.

The defence minister, however, said Tweya’s quotes about the military construction in Suiderhof in Windhoek is incorrect.

Called yesterday by The Namibian for clarity on why there are confusing versions on the same issue, Ya Ndakolo said he wanted to correct his fellow minister because there is no ongoing military construction, nor is it an arms factory.

He insisted that the ongoing construction at Suiderhof is for a new office building.

“The truth is that there is no arms factory being constructed. It’s a ministerial office, like others,” he said, adding that the ministry has a headache with the lack of space.

“We have a challenge of space. The ministry of defence has two components: military and civilian. We do not want to separate the two, but it is not logical for us to build an arms factory while we don’t have office space,” he stated.

The minister said he is aware of pronouncements by other ministers, such as Nandi-Ndaitwah and now Tweya, but he declined to comment on their statements since they are speaking for their ministries.

David Bush and Motoi Araki, who work for Japan’s biggest television group Asahi, were arrested at the VIP lounge at the Hosea Kutako International Airport in connection with questions around the munitions factory.

The journalists’ three cameras and two laptops were confiscated by government officials who allegedly feared that what they contained could endanger the country’s national security. The pair interviewed deputy prime minister Nandi-Ndaitwah a few minutes before heading to the airport.

Tweya said the two journalists informed the deputy premier that they took pictures and footage of North Korean workers hosted in dormitories working at a military construction site.

Nandi-Ndaitwah has confirmed the existence of a North Korean-built munitions factory in the country, but said the factory was not in contravention of any United Nations’ sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

She also said the Namibian government was not involved in anything untoward, and that government has cooperated with the United Nations and openly answered and forwarded information requested by the United Nations.

Namibia also confirmed that it had received training and technical assistance relating to arms, but stated that given United Nations’ sanctions, the relevant experts had returned to the DPRK.

A military project between Namibia and North Korea is said to be in defiance of the UN Security Council, which banned, among others, any technology transfer or training that could be used for military purposes between North Korea and UN member countries.

It is understood the recent meetings and measures taken by the Namibian government are aimed at observing international law and complying with the directives of the United Nations committee on sanctions.

International Relations Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s meetings over the past weekend with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and titular head of state Kim Jong-un also touched on talks related to the development of “friendly and cooperative relations… and other issues of mutual concern,” state-owned Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

North Korea is understood to be currently building a munitions factory in Namibia, but President Hage Geingob – speaking on the matter during his State of the Nation Address in April – said the agreement was entered into before UN sanctions were imposed on Pyongyang. President Geingob was, therefore, of the view that the country’s dealings with Pyongyang were not in defiance of any statues, as suggested by critics.

Also in April, a Namibian delegation to a New York conference met the UN committee on sanctions to explain the country’s relations with North Korea. In that meeting, Namibia is said to have clarified that all its dealings with the East Asian country were agreed upon before the UN passed sanctions against North Korea – a country often accused of gross human rights violations.

New Era reported later in April that the UN exonerated Namibia from any wrongdoing, but it now appears the country was urged to toe the line on new dealings with Pyongyang. Yesterday Minister Nandi-Ndaitwah told New Era that she was still at the airport and was therefore unable to provide further clarity on the subject. “I’m coming to address that matter when I arrive in the country,” she briefly said.

It is not likely that Namibia would wholly cease relations with North Korea, but New Era understands that the munition project is likely to be discontinued. Namibia’s attempt to place on ice North Korea’s military projects in the country is seen as government fulfilling its international commitments regarding the matter.

North Korean firms were previously involved in the construction of Namibia’s State House, Heroes’ Acre monument, the military museum at Okahandja, the Independence Museum in Windhoek and other military construction projects that are now said to be prohibited under the UN sanctions.

Perhaps the clearest hint of the government’s stance on the subject came when Nandi-Ndaitwah, during an interview with the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in New York two months ago, said the country would continue to cooperate with the UN in this matter. “There is nothing really to worry about and we want to assure our people that as a government we will continue to cooperate with the UN,” she was quoted as saying.

Ties between Namibia and North Korea date back to the days of the anti-colonial struggle when the Asian nation supported Namibia – and cordial diplomatic relations continued after independence.